Abstract: An RF communications transmitter system comprising a processor, a switch and a plurality of feedhorns. The switch is configured to receive a feed signal of a frequency bandwidth. The processor is configured to control the switch to provide the feed signal to each of at least two of the feedhorns for a respective time period. Each of the at least two feedhorns is configured to generate a beam during the respective time period that the feed signal is provided thereto, wherein the beam is formed based on the feed signal and is transmitted to cover a geographic area of the Earth. The formation and transmission of the beams by the feedhorns is controlled by the processor to provide a time-based allocation of bandwidth amongst the beams based on the time period that the feed signal is provided to each of the feedhorns and a respective frequency/polarization reuse scheme.

Abstract: A telecommunications platform comprises an antenna configured to generate a plurality of communications beams within a respective footprint on the surface of the Earth, wherein each communications beam provides data communications services over a respective cell coverage area on the surface of the Earth. The telecommunications platform further comprises a processor configured to control the plurality of communications beams of the antenna to form the respective cell coverage areas in a fixed cell pattern that remains essentially fixed relative to the surface of the Earth, such that, as the telecommunications platform travels through an orbit around the Earth, the footprint of the antenna sweeps across the fixed cell pattern and provides the communications services via the cell coverage areas of the fixed cell pattern that are within the footprint of the antenna at any given point in time.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization of satellite switching instants with gateway switching instants is described.

Abstract: Signal precoding can include: determining a first antenna pattern gain for a beam directed from a first antenna feed on the satellite toward a first user terminal in a first cell and determining a second antenna pattern gain for a beam directed from a second antenna feed on the satellite toward a second user terminal in a second cell adjacent to the first cell; wherein the adjacent cells are partitioned into sectors; determining a first sector location of the first user terminal and a second sector location of the second user terminal; a precoder matrix circuit using the determined first and second antenna pattern gains to calculate a precoder matrix to reduce interference levels caused by the first signal at the second sector and by the second signal at the first sector; and the precoder matrix circuit applying the precoder matrix to the first and second signals.

Abstract: An RF communications transmitter system comprising a processor, a switch and a plurality of feedhorns. The switch is configured to receive a feed signal of a frequency bandwidth. The processor is configured to control the switch to provide the feed signal to each of at least two of the feedhorns for a respective time period. Each of the at least two feedhorns is configured to generate a beam during the respective time period that the feed signal is provided thereto, wherein the beam is formed based on the feed signal and is transmitted to cover a geographic area of the Earth. The formation and transmission of the beams by the feedhorns is controlled by the processor to provide a time-based allocation of bandwidth amongst the beams based on the time period that the feed signal is provided to each of the feedhorns and a respective frequency/polarization reuse scheme.

Abstract: A system is provided for reducing latency data collection from space-based sensor satellites. A mobile vehicle platform, configured to travel around the Earth, includes a sensor module and a relay satellite terminal. The sensor module monitors certain conditions, circumstances, environments and/or situations occurring on or around, or associated with, the Earth, and generates sensor data resulting from the monitoring. The relay satellite terminal executes data communications with a first of a plurality of satellites while the mobile vehicle platform is in a first area within a communications range of the first satellite, and, upon moving to a second area within a communications range of a second of the plurality of satellites, the relay satellite terminal switches the data communications to the second satellite. The data communications relay the sensor data, via the satellites, to a central processing facility for aggregation, processing, analysis and/or dissemination of the data.

Abstract: A method for determining routes for a data circuit between source and destination terminals, where the circuit is formed via satellites traveling in respective non-geostationary orbits, and a total time during which the circuit is active is divided into time intervals. The determination of each route comprises, for each time interval, (i) selecting an uplink satellite to service the source terminal as an ingress node for the circuit, and (ii) determining a series of inter-satellite links connecting the uplink satellite to a downlink satellite servicing the destination terminal during the respective time interval, wherein the series of links is determined to be valid during the respective time interval. Each of the plurality of time intervals is of a duration based on a validity time, based on the satellites traveling in their respective orbits, for the inter-satellite link of all of the routes that is of the shortest duration.

Abstract: A method of accelerated testing of a membrane module for resistance to cyclic stress during operation of an industrial membrane separation process comprising loading at least one membrane module into a test cell of a test plant; conducting said industrial membrane separation process while subjecting said membrane module to cyclic stresses during a plurality of membrane operating cycles, each cycle being of significantly lesser duration than used for operation of said industrial membrane separation process in an operating plant; and testing said membrane module for component failure caused by said cyclic stresses.

Abstract: A system is provided for reducing latency data collection from space-based sensor satellites. A mobile vehicle platform includes a sensor module configured to monitor certain conditions, circumstances, environments and situations occurring on or around, or associated with, the Earth, and to generate sensor data resulting from the monitoring. A relay satellite terminal is configured to execute data communications via a communications channel of a first satellite beam, wherein the data communications are configured to relay the sensor data, via satellites, to respective gateways for forwarding to a central processing facility for one or more of aggregation, processing, analysis and dissemination of the data. The relay satellite terminal is further configured to switch the data communications from the communications channel of the first satellite beam to a communications channel of a second satellite beam based on a position of the relay satellite terminal relative to the first and second satellite beams.

Abstract: A high capacity satellite communications system including a satellite with a beam for a forward downlink focused on a geographic area for which disproportionately higher capacity is desired, a hub located in a geographic area for which disproportionately lower capacity is desired, compared to the location of a VSAT, and the VSAT located in area where a beam for a forward downlink received by the VSAT from the satellite does not overlap with a beam for a return downlink received by the hub from a satellite.

Abstract: A system is provided for reducing latency data collection from space-based sensor satellites. A mobile vehicle platform, configured to travel around the Earth, includes a sensor module and a relay satellite terminal. The sensor module monitors certain conditions, circumstances, environments and/or situations occurring on or around, or associated with, the Earth, and generates sensor data resulting from the monitoring. The relay satellite terminal executes data communications with a first of a plurality of satellites while the mobile vehicle platform is in a first area within a communications range of the first satellite, and, upon moving to a second area within a communications range of a second of the plurality of satellites, the relay satellite terminal switches the data communications to the second satellite. The data communications relay the sensor data, via the satellites, to a central processing facility for aggregation, processing, analysis and/or dissemination of the data.

Abstract: A high capacity satellite communications system including a satellite with a beam for a forward downlink focused on a geographic area for which disproportionately higher capacity is desired, a hub located in a geographic area for which disproportionately lower capacity is desired, compared to the location of a VSAT, and the VSAT located in area where a beam for a forward downlink received by the VSAT from the satellite does not overlap with a beam for a return downlink received by the hub from a satellite.

Abstract: A system is provided for reducing latency data collection from space-based sensor satellites. A mobile vehicle platform includes a sensor module configured to monitor certain conditions, circumstances, environments and situations occurring on or around, or associated with, the Earth, and to generate sensor data resulting from the monitoring. A relay satellite terminal is configured to execute data communications via a communications channel of a first satellite beam, wherein the data communications are configured to relay the sensor data, via satellites, to respective gateways for forwarding to a central processing facility for one or more of aggregation, processing, analysis and dissemination of the data. The relay satellite terminal is further configured to switch the data communications from the communications channel of the first satellite beam to a communications channel of a second satellite beam based on a position of the relay satellite terminal relative to the first and second satellite beams.

Abstract: A method of accelerated testing of a membrane module for resistance to cyclic stress during operation of an industrial membrane separation process comprising loading at least one membrane module into a test cell of a test plant; conducting said industrial membrane separation process while subjecting said membrane module to cyclic stresses during a plurality of membrane operating cycles, each cycle being of significantly lesser duration than used for operation of said industrial membrane separation process in an operating plant; and testing said membrane module for component failure caused by said cyclic stresses.

Abstract: A system for gateway RF diversity using a configurable spot beam satellite including a satellite, a first gateway connected to a first VSAT population through the satellite by a first gateway spot beam and a first user spot beam set, a diversity gateway located outside of the first gateway spot beam for the first gateway, and a diversity control function to command the satellite to connect the first user spot beam set for the first gateway to a diversity gateway spot beam when the first gateway experiences service interruption.

Abstract: A triple use satellite system includes a VSAT population including a VSAT, and a satellite including a broadcast beam for a broadcast service and spot beams for a broadband service, where each of the spot beams provides broadband service to VSATs in separate coverage areas in a geographic region and the broadcast beam provides a broadcast service to the VSAT population in the geographic region.

Abstract: A high capacity satellite communications system including a satellite with a beam for a forward downlink focused on a geographic area for which disproportionately higher capacity is desired, a hub located in a geographic area for which disproportionately lower capacity is desired, compared to the location of a VSAT, and the VSAT located in area where a beam for a forward downlink received by the VSAT from the satellite does not overlap with a beam for a return downlink received by the hub from a satellite.

Abstract: A triple use satellite system includes a VSAT population including a VSAT, and a satellite including a broadcast beam for a broadcast service and spot beams for a broadband service, where each of the spot beams provides broadband service to VSATs in separate coverage areas in a geographic region and the broadcast beam provides a broadcast service to the VSAT population in the geographic region.

Abstract: A high capacity satellite communications system including a satellite with a beam for a forward downlink focused on a geographic area for which disproportionately higher capacity is desired, a hub located in a geographic area for which disproportionately lower capacity is desired, compared to the location of a VSAT, and the VSAT located in area where a beam for a forward downlink received by the VSAT from the satellite does not overlap with a beam for a return downlink received by the hub from a satellite.

Abstract: A system for gateway RF diversity using a configurable spot beam satellite including a satellite, a first gateway connected to a first VSAT population through the satellite by a first gateway spot beam and a first user spot beam set, a diversity gateway located outside of the first gateway spot beam for the first gateway, and a diversity control function to command the satellite to connect the first user spot beam set for the first gateway to a diversity gateway spot beam when the first gateway experiences service interruption.